Weird, me too.
As for the rest, if yoh do.t come out uphold never meet anyone. While the CR crew does tend to stick together, they're not hard to find. Or you post up and ask where in the lot are you.
I've scampered out to a few meets, and CR events. Typically I'll skip the dinners to eat with the family, and stay out till the wee hours with a decent number of people I've met through CR. Almost always a good time.
Velcro, or Slippers man. Life is easier.
SRS
I gave up on Lacing shoes a couple of years ago. Most of my shoes are slip on. Or I go in Sandles/Flip Flops.